Constitutional and Statutory Mandates Cited
- The Executive Order anchors local implementation on Section 15, Article II of the Constitution, requiring the State to protect and promote the right to health and instill health consciousness.
- It relies on Section 3, Article XV of the Constitution, protecting: spouses’ rights to found a family consistent with religious convictions and responsible parenthood; children’s rights to assistance and special protection; families’ rights to a family wage and income; and family/family associations’ rights to participate in planning and implementation of policies and programs affecting them.
- It directs local action under the authority granted by R.A. 7160 (Local Government Code).
- It specifically invokes local health responsibilities under Section 16 of R.A. 7160 and service responsibilities under Section 17 of R.A. 7160, including health services, family planning services, and population development services.
Policy, Purpose, and Program Intent
- The Executive Order directs an earnest implementation of the Philippine Family Planning Program to arrest high infant and maternal mortality.
- It emphasizes safe motherhood and child survival as key program goals.
- The program recognizes the constitutional right of all Filipinos to exercise freedom of conscience on the number and spacing of children.
- It requires family planning methods to be consistent with individuals’ religious and moral beliefs and aligned with the ideals of a democratic country.
- The program treats family planning as a part of nationally mandated priority public health concerns and as a critical component of the Philippine Population Management Program to reach population levels conducive to improved individual and family welfare and sustainable development.
Who Must Act and Coverage of Local Implementation
- The Executive Order directs action to local chief executives at the local government level.
- It specifically names governors and mayors of component cities and municipalities operating under supervision.
- It also covers mayors of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities.
- The duties under the Executive Order are directed to these local officials to support nationwide program implementation.
Core Local Government Duties
- Local chief executives must promote the Philippine Family Planning Program as a priority government program through:
- advocacy activities,
- vigorous and sustained participation of local officials in program management,
- use of local facilities,
- services of local service providers and other local employees, and
- utilization of other local resources and expertise (Section 1).
- Local chief executives must ensure that information on and services for all methods—including Natural Family Planning endorsed by the program—are available at appropriate levels of service outlets.
- Local chief executives must ensure services and information adhere to standards of quality of care promulgated by the national program (Section 2).
- Local chief executives must ensure that family planning is purely voluntary, based on freedom of conscience and respect for the sanctity of life (Section 3).
- Local chief executives must provide necessary budgetary support to the program (Section 4).
- Local chief executives must coordinate with and seek assistance from national agencies, particularly the Department of Health, and members of the Population Commission, for program implementation (Section 5).
- Local chief executives must coordinate and encourage the involvement of non-government organizations and the private commercial sector in the Philippine Family Planning Program through public-private sector partnership (Section 6).